The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, Sept. 14, left in place a preliminary injunction halting the mandatory implementation of a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail ballot rule for the November 2026 election and keeping Michigan's normal rules in place this fall.
The blocked USPS rule, following a March 2026 executive order from President Donald Trump, would require states to enroll every voter who is eligible to vote by mail with USPS and task USPS with compiling the registered voters into state-specific lists.
The rule also would require new design requirements for state mail-in ballot envelopes, which USPS would need to approve. Under the rule, USPS would not deliver ballots to voters who do not appear on the USPS-generated lists and would not deliver ballots in envelopes that
fail to comply with the rule’s new envelope design standards.
“Every court that has reviewed this case has refused to allow this White House's most recent attempt to disenfranchise voters ahead of the midterms,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Monday. “With Michigan ballots being mailed out in days, I am profoundly relieved that the Supreme Court has backed our voters, our clerks, and the Constitution against the Trump administration’s manufactured chaos and confusion.”
In 2018, Michigan amended its state Constitution to allow no-reason absentee voting, and registered voters may choose to be placed on a permanent mail ballot list. In the 2024 general election, 2,232,721 Michiganders voted by mail, accounting for 39% of votes in that election.
On Aug. 26, 2026, USPS published the new Trump-backed rule and made it effective immediately, just 96 days before the November election. Michigan, along with 24 states, filed a lawsuit against the USPS challenging the rule.
The following day, the U.S. District Court issued a temporary restraining order, enjoining mandatory implementation of the rule. And, on Sept. 4, 2026, the court issued a preliminary injunction, enjoining the rule for the 2026 election. The Supreme Court left that ruling in place.
“Today, the U.S. Supreme Court did right by the American people and our Constitution. The president’s attempt to block voting by mail is a failed power grab and an attempt to take away our freedom to choose how we vote,” Michigan Secretary Jocelyn Benson said. “States run elections — not the federal government, not the postal service, and not the president.”
According to officials at the Michigan Department of State, ballots are available 40 days before Election Day, on Thursday, Sept. 24 this year.
Voters who requested an absentee ballot and want to return it via a secure drop box — rather than by mail or in person — must return it to a drop box in the city or township where they live, according to the Michigan Department of State.
Voters who return it to another city or township's drop box run the risk of their ballot not being counted, the state agency said.
Earlier this year, the USPS announced that it was changing the way it handled mail postmarks, which could mean ballots dropped off before the deadline are not marked until after the deadline passes.
USPS said in a new rule announced in January that the postmark will reflect the date an mail piece is first processed by an automated USPS sorting machine, potentially days after it was dropped off — not the actual drop-off date, unless done so in person.
Here's more on Michigan rules for absentee voting.
How can I return my absentee ballot?
By mail: The Michigan Secretary of State Office encourages voters to mail in their ballots at least two weeks before Election Day to avoid potential mailing delays. A pre-paid envelope is provided for voters who vote absentee.
Drop box: Voters can return a completed and signed ballot to one of their clerk's secure drop boxes located in their city or township. To look where your clerk's drop box locations click here.
On Election Day (except in Detroit): Voters can return their absentee at the polling place where they can insert it into the tabulator except for Detroit voters. You can find your polling place at michigan.gov/vote.
At an early voting site: Voters can return their absentee ballot at their early voting site and insert it into the tabulator. You can find your early voting site at michigan.gov/vote.
At a clerk's office: Voters can also return their absentee ballot to the clerk's office. You can find your clerk's office at michigan.gov/vote.
Ballots must be inserted into a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. If you're mailing your ballot, it must be received by your local clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Tracking your absentee ballot
Track the status of your absentee ballot application and ballot online using the Michigan Voter Information Center. Visit mvic.sos.state.mi.us, click on "Your voter information" and fill out the search form. Once on your page, you can check if your application or ballot has been received.
Free Press reporters contributed to this report.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Court order leaves Michigan ballot rules for 2026. What's happening
